Amidst the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean, Marc and his family embark on a summer retreat to his cherished teenage haven. Yet, the tranquil getaway is soon disrupted by gusty Mistral winds, icy seas, and the comically insufficient water heater in their rustic villa. Plumbing troubles, seafood feasts, and a series of amusing miscommunications set the stage for a chaotic and romantic odyssey. With doors slamming and desires soaring, 'Crustacés & coquillages' unfolds as a spirited tale of unexpected twists, where the heat of summer fuels both laughter and unforeseen passion.
In the warmth of summer, Marc leads his family—wife Béatrix and their two children—to the Mediterranean retreat of his youth. However, their idyllic vacation is disrupted by the unpredictable Mistral winds, chilly seas, and a quirky old villa’s failing water heater. As plumbing problems, seafood excesses, and misadventures unfold, the family finds themselves entangled in a whirlwind of lies, misunderstandings, and unexpected romantic twists. Amidst nightly chases and slammed doors, desires are ignited, and destinies take an unforeseen turn, leaving the characters to navigate a sea of comedic chaos and summer escapades.
A nice romantic comedy with lots of characters in Crustacés et coquillages (2005)
It shows a seemingly happy and perfect family.
Béatrix and Marc, with two teenagers, are coming for a summer vacation somewhere in the south of France.
They are convinced that their son Mathieu, who is there with his friend Martin, is gay and they want to help him announce it. However, Mathieu is not gay, but he does not deny it because he wants to protect his friend Martin who is, and at night he sneaks out of the house and goes to a nearby park to have sex. Martin is also in love with Mathieu. Laura, the daughter, is mostly absent from the screen because when she goes out with a motorcyclist, she doesn’t come back until the end of the movie.
Marc is obsessed with his son’s sexuality and especially with his partner. He is constantly doing something in the garage, sometimes he comes over to see Martin taking a shower and jerking off. His wife in her prime for sex has a lover who satisfies her sexual appetites.
And all of this would be rather idyllic and boring if the plumber Didier didn’t appear. Mathieu meets him, who once secretly followed comrade Martin while he was going to a bonfire in the nearby forest.
It turns out that the plumber is Marc’s ex-lover. And that’s where old love is resurrected. Even though they hadn’t seen each other for so many years, they never stopped loving each other. All the time, Didier kept one of Mark’s old letters in which he writes:
..It’s the taste of salt on your skin I miss most,
the taste of the sea where we made love…
Your taste of shellfish.
I love you, I love you, I’ll love you forever.
My future is with you. We’ll stand up to others.
Our love is beautiful…..
After one sex, they decide not to lie anymore and make it all public. After learning from her son that her husband is a fag, Béatrix decides to tell Marc that she has a lover.
This light comedy with a happy ending is really relaxing and easier to watch than to describe.
